Method and apparatus for mounting a drive mechanism within a door module

ABSTRACT

A mounting method and apparatus provides a simple and compact mount for attaching a power or manual window drive mechanism within a door module. The drive mechanism can be removed from a door panel without having to remove the driven mechanism that lowers and raises the window. The drive mechanism is positioned on one side of the panel and the driven mechanism is positioned on an opposite side of the panel from the drive mechanism. A retaining assembly retains the driven and drive mechanisms to the panel such that the drive mechanism can be selectively detached from the panel without detaching the driven mechanism from the panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This application relates to a method and apparatus for mounting awindow drive mechanism within a vehicle door module.

[0002] Window drive mechanisms are used to move a vehicle door windowbetween raised and lowered positions. The drive mechanisms can be eithermanually or electrically driven. In a manual drive interface, a handleis mounted to the vehicle door, which is connected to a cable and drumassembly that controls movement of the window. A vehicle occupantrotates the handle, which moves the window up or down depending onrotational direction. In a power drive interface, a motor mounted withinthe door is used to drive the cable and drum assembly. The vehicleoccupant actuates a switch that controls the motor for moving the windowup or down.

[0003] There is a limited amount of packaging space available within adoor panel module for mounting of the drive mechanism and cable and drumassembly. Thus, the drive mechanism and cable and drum assemblycomponents should be mounted together in a compact manner. Further, ifthere is a component failure within the window drive mechanism, thedrive mechanism should be easily detached from the door panel module sothat service operations can be performed.

[0004] Thus, it is desirable to have a mounting method and apparatusthat provides a strong structural attachment for the drive mechanism andcable and drum components to the door panel module, and which is compactand easy to assemble and disassemble to perform service operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A mounting apparatus is used to mount a window drive mechanism toa door panel within a vehicle door module. The apparatus includes amanual or electric drive mechanism and a driven mechanism that raises orlowers the window. The drive mechanism is positioned on one side of thepanel and the driven mechanism is positioned on an opposite side of thepanel from the drive mechanism. A retaining assembly retains the drivenand drive mechanisms to the panel such that the drive mechanism can beselectively detached from the panel without detaching the drivenmechanism from the panel.

[0006] In one embodiment, the retaining assembly includes an adhesivemembrane having adhesive on a first side for adhering to the panel andadhesive on a second side opposite from the first side for adhering toone or the drive or driven mechanisms.

[0007] In an alternate embodiment, the driven mechanism includes atleast one male extension member for insertion through an opening in thepanel. The drive mechanism includes a female member that receives themale member to properly locate the drive mechanism with respect to thedoor panel and driven mechanism. The retaining assembly includes aplurality of flexible fingers extending about a perimeter of the openingin the door panel. The flexible fingers grip the extension member whenthe driven mechanism is mounted to the panel.

[0008] In an alternate embodiment, the retaining assembly includes atleast one stud with a threaded portion engaged with the panel and a pairof opposing ends inserted through openings in the drive and drivenmechanisms respectively. A first nut retains the stud to the drivemechanism and a second nut retains the stud to the driven mechanism.

[0009] In an alternate embodiment, the retaining assembly includes atleast a pair of studs with a first stud having a threaded distal end forengagement with the panel and a first retainer for retaining an opposingend of the first stud to the drive mechanism. A second stud has athreaded distal end for engagement with the panel and a second retainerfor retaining an opposing end of the second stud to the drivenmechanism.

[0010] In an alternate embodiment, the retaining assembly includes atleast one stud extending through openings in the drive and drivenmechanism with deformed portions engaging and retaining the stud to thepanel between the drive and driven mechanisms.

[0011] The method of assembling a drive mechanism to a door panelincludes the following steps. A driven mechanism is retained to one sideof the door panel and a drive mechanism is located on an opposite sideof the panel with respect to the driven mechanism. The drive mechanismis retained to the panel and driven mechanism such that the drivemechanism is selectively removable from the panel without detaching thedriven mechanism from the panel.

[0012] The subject mounting method and apparatus provides a simple andcompact mount for attaching a window drive mechanism within a doormodule. The capability of selectively detaching certain componentswithout having to detach other components facilitates serviceability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is schematic view of a vehicle incorporating the subjectwindow drive mechanism mounted within a door panel module.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment for mounting a power drivemechanism within a door panel module.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternate embodiment for mounting apower drive mechanism within a door panel module.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment for mounting apower drive mechanism within a door panel module.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternate embodiment for mounting apower drive mechanism within a door panel module.

[0018]FIG. 6 is a side view of one embodiment for mounting a manualdrive mechanism within a door panel module.

[0019]FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternate embodiment for mounting amanual drive mechanism within a door panel module.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment formounting a manual or power drive mechanism within a door panel module.

[0021]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment formounting a manual or power drive mechanism within a door panel module.

[0022]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment formounting a manual or power drive mechanism within a door panel module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 includes a plurality of windows12 that can be moved between raised and lowered positions. Window driveassemblies or window regulators, shown generally at 14, are mountedwithin each door panel module 16 for controlling movement of thewindows. The drive assemblies 14 can be either manually or electricallydriven.

[0024] An example of a power drive interfaces is shown in FIG. 2. Themounting apparatus for attaching a drive assembly 14 within the vehicledoor module 16 includes a door panel member 18 that is mounted withinthe door module 16. An electric motor drive mechanism 20 is positionedon one side 22 of the panel 18 and a drum assembly 24 is positioned onan opposite side 26 of the panel 18 from the motor 20. Preferably, thedrum assembly 24 is positioned on the “wet” side 26 of the door panel 18and the motor 20 is positioned on the “dry” side 22 of the panel 18,however, the position of the components could also be reversed.

[0025] The drum assembly 24 is comprised of a drum 28 about which aflexible cable member 30 is wound. The drum 28 is mounted to a drum-box32 that is attached to a vehicle door or frame member 34. The motor 20includes a drive shaft 36 that drives the drum 28 to wind or unwindcable 30 from the drum 28 causing the window 12 to be raised or lowereddepending on direction of rotation.

[0026] At least one fastener 38 is used to mounting the motor 20 and thedrum assembly 24 to the panel 18. Preferably at least two (2) or three(3) fasteners 38 are used for attachment purposes, however, only one (1)is shown.

[0027] An adhesive membrane 40 is used to retain the drum assembly 24 tothe panel 18. The use of the adhesive membrane 40 allows the motor 20 tobe selectively detached from the panel 18 by removing the fastener 38but prevents the drum assembly 24 from detaching from the panel 18. Theadhesive membrane 40 has adhesive on a first side 42 for adhering to thepanel 18 and adhesive on a second side 44 opposite from the first side42 for adhering to the drum assembly 24. Any type of adhesive known inthe art can be used, however, the adhesive should be strong enough tosecurely hold the drum assembly 24 to the panel 18 without theassistance of the fastener 38.

[0028] The drum assembly 24 includes at least one male member 46 and themotor 20 includes at least one female member 48. The male 46 and female48 members are used to properly locate the motor 20 with respect to thepanel 18 and the drum assembly 24. The male 46 and female 48 members aremated together during assembly of the motor 20 and drum assembly 24 tothe panel 18. It should be understood that position the male 46 andfemale 48 members could be reversed.

[0029] The male member 46 extends through an opening 50 in the panel 18when the drum assembly 24 is adhered to the panel 18. The female member48 slides over the male member 46 when the motor 20 is fastened to thepanel 18.

[0030] In one embodiment, the male member 46 includes a central bore 52for receiving the fastener 38. The fastener is inserted through themotor 20 into the female member 48 and then into the male member 46.

[0031] Preferably, the male member 46 is cylindrical in shape, as shownin FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the male member is coaxial with thecentral bore 52 for receiving the fastener 38. It should be understoodthat the male member 46 could also be located separately from thefastening areas on the drum assembly 24.

[0032] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the male member 46 isconical in shape and has a tip 54 that is smaller in diameter than thebase 56.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the adhesive membrane 40 can either beattached first to the panel 18 as indicated at “A” or can be attachedfirst to the drum assembly 24 as indicated at “B”. Preferably, theadhesive membrane 40 is adhered to the drum-box 32 such that the drum 38can engage the motor drive shaft 36 and rotate freely.

[0034] In an alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the drum assembly 24is retained to the panel 18 by a plurality of “sprags” or flexiblefingers 58. The fingers 58 are spaced about the opening 50 in the panel18. The fingers grip the male member 46 when the male member is insertedthrough the opening. In this embodiment, the male member 46 includes ahead portion 60 that is greater in width than a base or neck portion 62.As the male member 46 is inserted through the opening, the fingers 58flex over the head portion 60 and grip about the neck portion 62.Although only one opening 50 is shown, the panel 18 can include severalopenings 50 with fingers 48 and the drum assembly 24 can include severalmale members 46.

[0035] In a manual drive interface shown in FIG. 6, a handle portion 64is mounted to the vehicle door panel 18. The handle 64 drives the drumassembly 24 to control movement of the window 12. A vehicle occupantrotates the handle 64, which moves the window 12 up or down depending onrotational direction.

[0036] The drum assembly includes a male member 66 and the handle 64includes a female portion 68 that are configured similarly to the powerdrive interfaces discussed above. In one embodiment, the male members 66are cylindrical in shape (FIG. 6) and in an alternate embodiment, themale members 66 are conical in shape (FIG. 7).

[0037] An adhesive membrane 40 (FIG. 6) can be used to retain the drumassembly 24 to the panel 18 or a plurality of flexible fingers 58 (FIG.7) can be used to retain the drum assembly 24 to the panel 18. Theadhesive membrane 40 and the flexible fingers 58 operate in a similarmanner as discussed above with regard to the power drive mechanism. Atleast one fastener 38 is used to attach the handle 64 to the panel 18and drum assembly 24. The handle 64 can be removed from the panel 64selectively and independently from the drum assembly 24 for serviceoperations.

[0038] An alternate retaining apparatus is shown in FIG. 8. A stud 70 isthreaded along its entire length for insertion into the door panel 18. Amid-portion 72 of the stud 70 is threaded into a corresponding threadedhole in the door panel 18. Holes 74 and 76 in the drum assembly 24 anddrive mechanism 14 respectively pass over the appropriate ends of thestud 70 to ensure that the drum 24 and drive mechanism 14 are alignedproperly relative to the panel 18. The stud 70 is further utilized tosecure the drum 24, panel 18, and drive mechanism 14 since nuts 78, 80are used to tighten the various components. While preferably the entirelength of stud 70 is threaded, it is possible to use a partiallythreaded or non-threaded stud in order to provide alignment of thevarious components.

[0039] An alternate retaining apparatus is shown in FIG. 9. Minimally, afirst stud 82 is threaded at one end for engagement with the door panel18 and an opposing second stud 84 is threaded at one end for engagementwith the door panel 18. The first stud 82 is used to both align andsecure the drum assembly 24 relative to the panel 18 and the second stud84 is used to both align and secure the drive mechanism 14 relative tothe door panel 18. While an opposing pair of studs 82, 84 is preferredadditional studs could be utilized on both sides to more securely attachthe various components.

[0040] An alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 10. A stud 86 is securedto the drum assembly 24 by a swaging technique wherein portions 88 ofthe stud 86 have been plastically deformed in order that the panel 18 isclamped between these portions 88.

[0041] The subject mounting method and apparatus provides a simple andcompact mount for attaching a window drive mechanism within a doormodule. The motor 20 or handle 64 can be removed from the door panel 18without having to remove the drum assembly 24. This facilitatesserviceability of the drive mechanism.

[0042] Preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed,however, a worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize thatcertain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. Forthat reason the following claims should be studied to determine the truescope and content of this invention.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for mounting a drive mechanism within avehicle door to move a window comprising: a door panel; a drivemechanism positioned on one side of said panel; a drum assemblypositioned on an opposite side of said panel from said drive mechanism;at least one fastener for mounting said drive mechanism and said drumassembly to said panel; and a retaining member for retaining said drumassembly to said panel wherein said drive mechanism can be selectivelydetached from said panel by removing said fastener without detachingdrum assembly from said panel.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1wherein said drum assembly includes at least one first locating portionand said drive mechanism includes at least one second locating portion,said first and second locating portions being mated together duringassembly of said drive mechanism and drum assembly to said panel.
 3. Anapparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first locating member is amale member extending through said panel when said drum assembly isadhered to said panel and said second locating member is a female memberthat receives said male member when said drive mechanism is fastened tosaid panel.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said malemember includes a central bore for receiving said fastener.
 5. Anapparatus according to claim 3 wherein said male member has acylindrical shape.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein saidcylindrical male member is coaxial with said central bore
 7. Anapparatus according to claim 3 wherein said male member has a conicalshape.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said retainingmember is an adhesive membrane having adhesive on a first side foradhering to said panel and adhesive on a second side opposite from saidfirst side for adhering to said drum assembly.
 9. An apparatus accordingto claim 8 wherein said drum assembly includes at least one malelocating member and said drive mechanism includes at least one femalelocating member for receiving said male locating member when said drivemechanism and said drum assembly are assembled to said panel, saidmembrane including at least one opening such that said male locatingmember extends through said membrane to engage said female locatingmember.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drum assemblyincludes at least one male extension member for insertion through anopening in said panel and wherein said retaining member is comprised ofa plurality of flexible fingers extending about a perimeter of saidopening, said flexible fingers for gripping said extension member whensaid drum assembly is mounted to said panel.
 11. An apparatus accordingto claim 10 wherein said male extension member includes a head portionhaving a first width and a neck portion having a second width less thansaid first width, said flexible fingers flexing over said head portionto grip said neck portion when said drum assembly is mounted to saidpanel.
 12. A method of assembling a drive mechanism to a door panelcomprising the steps of: (a) retaining a driven mechanism for raising orlowering a window to one side of the door panel; (b) locating a drivemechanism on an opposite side of the panel with respect to the drivenmechanism; (c) retaining the drive mechanism to the panel and drivenmechanism with a retaining assembly such that the drive mechanism isselectively removable from the panel without detaching the drivenmechanism from the panel.
 13. The method according to claim 12 whereinstep (c) includes mounting an adhesive member between the panel anddriven mechanism to retain the driven mechanism to the panel andfastening the drive mechanism to the panel independently from theadhesive.
 14. The method according to claim 12 wherein step (c) includesinserting at least one stud through the drive mechanism, panel, anddriven mechanism to selectively retain the driven mechanism to the panelwithout retaining the driven mechanism to the panel.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 12 including the step of unfastening and detachingthe drive mechanism from the panel while leaving the driven mechanismattached to the panel.
 16. An apparatus for mounting a drive mechanismwithin a vehicle door to move a window comprising: a door panel; a drivemechanism positioned on one side of said panel; a driven mechanismpositioned on an opposite side of said panel from said drive mechanism;and a retaining assembly for retaining said driven and drive mechanismsto said panel wherein said drive mechanism can be selectively detachedfrom said panel without detaching said driven mechanism from said panel.17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said retaining assemblyincludes at least one stud having a threaded portion engaged with saidpanel and a pair of opposing ends inserted through openings in saiddrive and driven mechanisms respectively with a first nut retaining saidstud to said drive mechanism and a second nut retaining said stud tosaid driven mechanism.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 16 whereinsaid retaining assembly includes at least a pair of studs with a firststud having a threaded distal end for engagement with said panel and afirst retainer for retaining an opposing end of said first stud to saiddrive mechanism and a second stud having a threaded distal end forengagement with said panel and a second retainer for retaining anopposing end of said second stud to said driven mechanism.
 19. Anapparatus according to claim 16 wherein said retaining assembly includesat least one stud extending through openings in said drive and drivenmechanism with deformed portions engaging and retaining said stud tosaid panel between said drive and driven mechanisms.
 20. An apparatusaccording to claim 16 wherein said retaining assembly includes at leastone fastener for mounting said drive mechanism and said driven mechanismto said panel and an adhesive membrane having adhesive on a first sidefor adhering to said panel and adhesive on a second side opposite fromsaid first side for adhering to said drum assembly.